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Johnny McGonigal's Pitt football chat: 09.30.21
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Johnny McGonigal
11:01
Welcome to this week's Pitt football chat. It feels like the mood around this team (and this conference) has shifted significantly since we last spoke. That in mind, fire away your questions and let's get to it.
Chris
11:02
Hi john- do pitt’s games against Tennessee and WMU give them any sort of advantage in preparation for Simms this weekend and what’s sure to be a number of RPO’s?
Johnny McGonigal
11:05
It certainly won’t hurt, but Jeff Sims is more of a running threat than Western Michigan’s Kaleb Eleby or Tennessee’s Joe Milton/Hendon Hooker. Is he a better passer than Eleby or Hooker? I don’t think so. But the Panthers know they’re going to get RPO looks out of Georgia Tech, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see the Yellow Jackets try a fake QB draw pass to the tight end up the seam. Pitt’s linebackers will have to keep their eyes. It’ll be a big test for middle linebacker SirVocea Dennis.
Jim in vt
11:06
Johnny, so manyPitt fans seem to take the “glass is half full and emptying “ approach. I don’t! Am I crazy for thinking that the door is wide open to 9-10 eons and a good bowl ina historically weak ACC?
Johnny McGonigal
11:09
Jim, you’re not crazy at all. This ACC is wide open, and not just the Coastal division. For the first time in almost a decade, anyone can win the conference. Clemson is out of sorts. Florida State is a mess. Miami can’t tackle. North Carolina can’t block anyone. Right now, according to ESPN’s FPI, Pitt has the best chance to win the Coastal and the 3rd-best chance to win the whole thing. Wild times we’re living in.
Tomi in Punta Gorda
11:10
Hi, Kenny Pickett would sure look good in black and gold. Can we get him in the third round?,
Johnny McGonigal
11:13
Think it’s a little soon to be speculating where Pickett will be drafted in April. He said himself this week when asked about his NFL stock that it’s only Week 5. But hey, an experienced quarterback with a good arm and improvisational skills? The Steelers could do much worse.
Guest
11:13
If  Kenny PIckett continues the way he is playing, and he become a 1st roiund draft pick.
Johnny McGonigal
11:14
If he throws for 4/5 touchdowns against every ACC opponent from here on out, sure. I think his play comes back down to earth a bit. The competition hasn’t been great so far. But I still think he’s made improvements, and it was the right decision for him to return.
BridgePanther
11:15
Do you think Pitt will continue its scoring momentum against GT? By far the best defense they have played but GT also has trouble scoring (sans UNC). I guess I am having trouble getting a feel for how this game could go.
Johnny McGonigal
11:18
I’m having trouble, too, to be honest. I don’t think Pitt goes out there and scores 47, let alone 77, especially if Georgia Tech keeps playing a 3-3-5 defense and makes Pickett be patient underneath as opposed to taking deep shots. But I do think the Panthers score 30+.
Buzzard Bill
11:19
Hi Johnny, the Georgia Tech pass rush can be quite  formidable, just ask North Carolina.  Do you think the Pitt offensive line can give Kenny Picket sufficient time to pass?  I don't think the running game can pick up the slack.
Johnny McGonigal
11:22
This is the matchup I’m looking forward to most. Is Geoff Collins’ “mayhem” defense legit? Or was North Carolina’s blocking that bad? Pitt’s pass blocking is better than UNC’s from what I’ve seen. But how much better? It’s tough to say given Pitt’s competition. Pickett had clean pockets at Tennessee. But you know he’s going to have to scramble and create, too.
H2P
11:23
Narduzzi mentioned in his press conference he had no ill will towards Geoff Collins over handshake-gate last year. Do you think that was just coach speak ?
Johnny McGonigal
11:26
I don’t know if that was all coach speak or not. But these are two teams that play hard and sometimes through the whistle. It’s Pitt’s first ACC game, and they’ll be fired up. And after losing at home in back-to-back to Pitt, the Yellow Jackets will want to follow up their UNC upset. I wouldn’t be surprised if things get testy again.
Arch Manning
11:28
Listening to the interviews with players and coaches this week, it seems like they keep mentioning the GT QBs ability to scramble then throw the ball downfield. But after watching highlights from GT/UNC, it seemed like Sims made the splash plays exclusively by running. Should the GT passing game really be that big of a concern Saturday?
Johnny McGonigal
11:30
Arch, welcome to the chat. Tell your uncles I’d love to join their MNF broadcast. In all seriousness, I mentioned it earlier but I think Sims is more of a threat on the ground than through the air. And I really don’t think Georgia Tech’s receivers are all that. All that being said, this is a young Pitt secondary that’s shown it’s vulnerabilities. It’ll be on Calijah Kancey and the front seven to get after Sims and harry him into mistakes.
Bob
11:31
What do you think the starting OL will look like.
Johnny McGonigal
11:34
If Owen Drexel can go, it’ll be the normal Carter Warren-Marcus Minor-Owen Drexel-Jake Kradel-Gabe Houy alignment. Drexel missed the New Hampshire game. And while Narduzzi didn’t say he’d play vs. GT like he did for Jared Wayne and SirVocea Dennis, my guess is holding Drexel out was precautionary. Now, if Drexel can’t go, then Kradel will play center, Houy will move to guard and Matt Goncavles will man the right tackle spot. We won’t know for sure until pregame warmups in Atlanta.
Tom in Punta Gorda
11:34
Will Jake Kradel play in the NFL?
Johnny McGonigal
11:35
Think it’s too early to say. Having the flexibility of playing both center and guard is valuable in the league, so that will help. But need to see more from him and the other linemen before looking that far ahead.
Gary Rossini
11:35
Been a while, Johnny. With former Pitt legend Lesean Mccoy's retirement announcement, got me wondering: Who would you say is Pitt's best active NFL player? And who do you expect to be the best pro on the current Pitt team?
Johnny McGonigal
11:38
I just saw that, Gary. Shady McCoy had a hell of a career with Pitt then the Eagles. Pitt’s best active player has to Aaron Donald. No-brainer there. As far as a second-best active player, I’d say fellow Salesianum grad Brian O’Neill. And who do I expect to be the best pro on the current team … give me Jordan Addison. I think he has the speed, the hands and the route-running to be a legit starting slot receiver in the league. I also think Kenny Pickett, Calijah Kancey, Lucas Krull and others can have productive careers. But Addison seems like the surest thing at the moment.
Guest
11:39
i watched gt dismantle nc saturday night, i think pitt is in for a big surprise, they better bring their A game
Johnny McGonigal
11:41
The Panthers will definitely have to bring their “A” game, but I don’t think they’ll be surprised. And I will say this: the game against UNC could not have gone more perfectly for Georgia Tech. Creating turnovers, generating sacks, running rampant. That was their ideal performance. If the Yellow Jackets put forth anything less than that, I think they lose.
Matt from LA
11:42
Any update on the status of the ACC network on Comcast? I thought that this matter was supposed to be resolved by now?
Johnny McGonigal
11:44
No update yet. As a less than happy YouTube TV subscriber, I wish it was resolved by now, too. I do know it’s one of the priorities of new-ish commissioner Jim Phillips. When it’ll happen, though, is tough to say.
11:45
Alright, looks like we’ve got some non-Pitt questions to run through before wrapping up with a score prediction.
Gregor Parles
11:45
would you rather have a beer with Thor or be verbally berated by Roy Kent
Johnny McGonigal
11:47
This is easy. As funny as it would be berated by Roy Kent, give me a beer with Thor. Why? Because when we’re done that one absurdly tall beer, he’s going to magically fill it back up and keep the party rolling.
Ted Lasso
11:48
who is more optimistic, me or Ned Flanders?
Johnny McGonigal
11:49
I’m going to go with you, Ted, primarily because I’ve never really been much of a Simpsons guy.
Nick Saban
11:49
which of my three favorite movies (clueless, mean girls, easy a) is the best?
Johnny McGonigal
11:50
Wow Nick, what a selection. For me, it’s Mean Girls. Amy Poehler as the insane mom puts it over the top.
Martin Scorsese
11:51
if I decided to make a movie about Pitt football, what should the title be?
Johnny McGonigal
11:52
Here We Go Again.
Stevie Wonder
11:52
Most awaited Marvel show coming up????
Johnny McGonigal
11:54
I’m pumped for Hawkeye. Big fan of Hailee Steinfeld from Dickinson, which is a worthwhile watch for those who have Apple TV. Now, if we’re talking about all Disney+ shows, I can’t wait for Ewan McGregor to return as Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Matt from LA
11:54
As a twenty year plus season ticket holder who actually attends every game, I not only must say that I am impressed by the number of Pitt students at the games this year but also realize that Pitt will never build an on-campus stadium (where would they put it in Oakland?). That said, even when they were top ten every year back in the 70's and early 80's, the stadium rarely sold out, so what's the solution to the pitiful attendance or is there none and we should stop comparing ourselves to Penn State?
Johnny McGonigal
11:56
Until Pitt starts winning on Penn State’s level, that comparison should stop. It has to start on the field. Now, I will say I’ve also been impressed with how the Pitt student section is showing up. Major props.
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